Knitting machine



Dec. 28. 1926. 1,612,736

P. P. LA MONTAGNE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1-

Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,736

P. P. LA MONTA-GNE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb- 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

warren srArss PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK 1?. LA MONTAGNE, 70F KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PARAMOUNT TEXTILE MACHINERY 00., OF CHICAGO,

KNITTING Application filed February This invention primarily relates to knitting machines; it has especial reference to the type thereof in which the needlecylinder is raised and lowered to regulate the length of stitch produced therein; and it involves a controlling-device utilizable therewith for positively maintaining, in predetermined position and relation, the mecha nism which operates automatically to lengthen the stitch in a course.

My inventive-concept involves p modification of and an improvement on the structure constituting the subject-matter of an application filed by Benjamin Hof man on February 19, 1926, Serial No. 89,404, for improvement in knitting machines. The present structure, as well as that of said application, has been developed as an attachment I for circular knitting machines of the socalled Scott & IVilliams type exemplified, for instance, in United States patent of R. W. Scott No. 1,152,850, dated September 7, 1915, for knitting seamless hosiery.

The device of said I-Iofiman application includes a bracket for detachably mounting the structure upon the machine, a two-arm member having presser-elementsadapted to engage and bear, with pressure, on a camring of the machine, and means for actuating said member to vary its relation to the ring, such means including a link connected to the member, a lever fulcrumed on the bracket and pivotally connected to the link, and a connection between the lever and certain actuatable parts of the machine. In that instance, the lever is connected to the upper end of a so-called gravity-rod of the machine and this connection is such that, if any adjustment thereof is required, several parts have to be removed. Moreover, the connection between the lever and the two-arm member is such that it is impossible to move the member a considerable distance away from the ring to permit removal of the needle-cylinder and other parts. In my structure, on the contrary, the two-arm member may readily be disconnected from its actuating elements,'and the latter can be adjusted without interfering with other parts and devices of the machine, adjustment of these always being possible without interfering with or adjusting parts of the attachment.

In the accompanying drawings, I have ilfit ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE.

19, 1926. Serial No. 89,423.

lustrateol the structure as an attachn'ient applied to a Scott & Williams circular knitting machine; but it is to be understood that, if desired, it may be built into the machine itself as a permanent mechanism; that it may be utilized in conjunction with other makes of machines; that my inventive-concept is susceptible of other embodiments and utilizations; and that it is capable of a wide range of modification and variation without departing from its principles or sacrificing any of the salient and underlying fea tures thereof.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device shown in conjunction with the camring of the aforementioned Scott & Williams machine and with certain other actuatable parts thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section thereof, showing, in dotted lines at the left, the displaced position of the two-arm member; and

Fig. 3 is also a fragmentary view in front elevation, partly in section, of the device.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the reference-character 1 designates a bed-plate on which the attachment, marked -A, is mounted. The machine includes, also, a cam-ring 2 of usual type and mounted in relation to a needl -cylinder 3, preferably in the manner disclosed in said patent.

The attachment comprises a bracket 4: mounted in any suitable way on the bedplate 1 as, for instance, by screws 5, 5? and 6, and whereby it is secured rigidly to the bed-plate.

Fulorumed on the upper part of the bracket is a two-armed member 6 comprising two outstanding arms 7, 7, the extremity of each of which is formed with an enlargement 8 bored to receive a headed member 9 and provided with a recess 10 for seating one end of a spring 11 which also bears against a ringengaging enlargement 12. The pin and spring constitute What I shall herein refer to as a presser-element. As shown, the two presser-elements bear on the upper face of the cam ring 2.

The two-arm member is bifurcated to provide a pair of trunnions 13, 13. Through the trunnions and the upper portion of the bracket 4: extends a short shaft 14 constituting the fulcrum upon which the two-arm member operates. The upper portion of the bracket 4 is likewise bifurcatedand between the sections thereof is mounted an arm-engaging element or connector 15. The shaft 14:, preferably and as shown, extends through this member. Thefree endthereof is provided with an upstanding lug 16 adapted to bear against an undercut port-io1r17 of tlie two-arm member. Extending through a boss 18 formed on the two-arm member is a connecting screw 1.9 threaded at its lower end 20 into a hole 2 in the engaging element 15 back of the lug 1i. By means of this screw 19 the two-arm member is detachably Connected to the actuating element, for a reason'presently to be explainet W Pivo'tally connected to the actuating ele ment is a link 22 which, at its lower end, is pivot-ally connected to a lever 23 fulcrumed at 24 on an upstanding portion 25 of the bracket 4 and provided adjacent its free end with a hole 26 througlrwhich extends the upper end 27 of an actuating rod 28. The end 27 is of smaller diametral dimensions than the body-portion of the rod 28'and on it'isadjustably secured a collar 29. The rod 28 parallels the usual gravity rod 30 of a Scott. &'W'illiams machine. This rod, at its lower end, is supported by a cross-pin 31 extending through an actuating lever 32 to which the gravity rod 30 is connected and whereby, through the action of the usual mttern-drum (not shown) the switch-cam 33 is controlled,'all as fully explained in the aforementioned Scott Patent No. 1,152,850. The pin31 is provided at one end with a cotter-pin ea. The pin is formed with a boss on which is mounted a washer 36 against which a nut 37 bears. The rod 28 extends through the boss 35, and the washer and the nut constitute'a' means for securing the pin to the rod and also provideineans for varyingthe thrust of the rod. 07mmt2'0n.Assuming that the parts .of the machine are in the required position to perform plain knitting, as in the leg-portion of the stocking, and are approaching the stage to knit the heel and toe, the presserelements will then be exerting a' yielding pressure on the ring 2. Then, inorder that this ringmay be free during the formation of the heel and toe by reciprocating-work, the twoarn'1 member is preferably actuated to vary the-relation of it-and its presserelements with respect tothe ring, whereby the pressure of the presser-elements on the ring is relieved to any required extent. This operation is effected simultaneously with the operation of the switch-ca1n 33 which con trols certain parts preparatory to reciprocating-work. To that end,'b'y reason'of the connection of the actuator or rod 28 .with thelever 32 which,'as already stated, is under thednfiuence ofthe pattern-dru1n the actuator is lowered slightly, which 'reengage these presser elemeuts from t lieves the upward pressure on the free end of the lever 23 and this in turn'allows the springs 11 of the presser-elements to expand and, thus, to lift the two-arm member away from the ring 'and'thereby relieve the pressure thereon, as aforementioned. By reason of the mounting of the collar 29 on the actuator'28'above the plane of the lever 23, the two-armed member 7 may be actuated to raise the presser elements entirely free from the sinker cam ring during the making of heel-and-toe work. Upon the 'completion ot'the reciprocating-work, the switchcam 33 is again operated and, simultaneously therewith, the lever 32 is actuated to force the actuator 28 upwards and, by the engagement of the shouldered; portion of the actuator against the free end of the lever 23, the latter is rocked on its fulcrum and, in this way, the two-arm member is rocked on its fulcrum l-l and depressed toward the ring to compress the springs of the presser-elements which again exert yielding pressure on the ring. y

In the event that it becomes necessary at any time to remove the cylinder from the machine, or do other work in connection with the internal parts and mechanisms thereof, and in order to avoid disturbing adjustments of certain parts, I have designed the attachment so that the two-arm member m'ay be swung out of operatingposition with respect to the ring, T o accomplish this, the element 19 is unscrewed from the connector 15, thereby breaking the connection between the two-arm member and the connector and permitting thehme mber to be swung backward on its fulcrum, and, if desired, into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

j The structure of my device is "distinguishable from that disclosed in the forementiened Hoffman application in that the two-arm member is so constructed and arranged that it may be actuated when the collar 29 engages the lever 23 so as toraise the presser elements free from the sinker-cam-ring when the machine is performing reciprocating knitting. In the Hoffman structure, the arm-actuating lever connected to the twoarm member is positively actuated, in one direction only, when the actuatingniechanism therefor is under the influence of the pattern drum of the machine. Movement of the'two-arm member in the opposite direction is effected only by the springs of the presser-elements, these springs operating, when the two-arm member is free of the in fluence ofthefpattern drum, to raise the member slightly but not to anententto dis- I he camring, In myjstructure, on the other hand, by reason of the positive connection between the drum-actuated mechanism and the actuating; lever 23, the two-arm member is posimember toward the cam-ring and thereby tension the springs 12 of the presser-ele ments, and then to raise the member and thereby tree the presser-elements entirely from the cam-ring. In addition, the twoarm member, as already explained, may be detached from its actuating mechanism and moved out of its normal actuating position, as just explained. A further difference between the two devices is that, in this instance, the lever 23 is connected to the switchcam-opcrating lever 32 by the supplemental rod 28 instead of being operated directly by the rod 30, the reason for this being that it permits adjustment of the parts of this device independently of adjustments made in the actuating mechanism for the switch-cam.

It will be understood that my device operates tocontrol any back-lash between the needle-cylinder and the cam-actuated mechanism which operates the same. It functions as a follow-up structure to supplement the action of gravity of the parts in moving the cylinder to cause the needles to take less yarn and tighten the stitch after the cylinder has been adjusted upwardly to vary the length of the stitch. In other words, the cylinder is, by this device, maintained in a definite position with respect to the pattern-drum so that there is no back-lash between the camsurface thereof and the cylinder.

IV hat I claim is:

1. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines, comprising a support, a presser-carrying member fulcrumed thereon, an actuator attachable to and detachable from the member, a manually-actuated instrumentality interposed between the actuator and member whereby the latter may be temporarily detached from the actuator and swung on its axis, and actuating mechanism connected to the actuator independently of said instrumentality.

2. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines, comprising a support, a presser-carrying member tulcrumed thereon, a presser-element mounted adjacent the extremity of the member and movable independently thereof, an actuator attachable to and detachable from the member, a manually-actuated instrumentality interposed between the actuator and member whereby the latter may be temporarily detached from the actuator and swung on its axis, and actuating mechanism connected to the actuator independently of said instrumentality.

8. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines comprising a bracket, a two-arm member tulcrumed thereon, a connecting element also fulcrumed on the bracket independently of the member, manuallyactuated means between the member and ele ment for operatively attaching the two-arm member to the connecting element and for temporarily efecting disconnection of the one from the other, and actuating mechanism associated with the connecting element for actuating it and the member.

4. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines comprising a bracket, a

two-arm member fulcrumed thereon, a connecting element also fulcrumed on the bracket independently of the member, means including an instrumentality carried by and movable with the member and attachable to and detachable from the connecting element for operatively securing the member to the connecting element, and actuating mechanism associated with the connecting element for actuating it and the member comprising a lever fulcrumed 011 the bracket, and a link between the lever and the connecting element and connected to the latter independently of said instrumentality.

5. A follow-up device for attachmentto knitting-machines comprising a bracket, a two-arm member fulcrumed thereon, a connecting element independently fulcrumed on the bracket, resser-elements carried by the member, a manually-actuated connection between the connecting element and the member for operatively attaching the one to the other and for detaching the member from the element whereby the former may be swung on its fulcrum away from and without disturbing the connecting element, an actuating lever fulcrumed on the bracket, and a link between the lever and the connecting element.

6. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines comprising a bracket, :1

two-arm member fulcrumed thereon, a connecting element, spring-controlled presserelements carried by the member, a connecting element tulcrumed on the bracket independently of the member, a connection between the connecting element and the memher and movable in one direction to effect attachment of the member to the element, and, in the opposite direction, to disconnect the one from the other, an actuating lever fulcrumed on the bracket, a link between the lever and the connecting element, and a plurality of machine-securing means on the bracket.

7. A follow-up device for attachment to knitting-machines comprising a bracket, a two-arm member fulcrumed thereon, springcontrolled pressing-elements mounted adjacent the extremities of the arms of the memher, a connecting element tulcrumed on the bracket, a screw extending through the memher and threaded into the connecting element, a lever fulcrumed on the bracket, and a link between the lever and the connecting element.

8. In a knitting machine, a needle-carrying cylinder, a sinker-cam-ring combinatively associated With the cylinder, and a cylinder-positioning device operatively associated' therewith-and including a support, a presser-eleinent movablyunounted on the support and engageable when in coactive position With the ring, and means active on said device and operatingindependently of the presser-eleinent for: positioning the lat ter into andout of'engagement with the ring.

9. In a knitting machine,"a needle-carrying cylinder, a sinker-cam-ring combinativel'y associated With the cylinder, and a cylinder-positioning device operatively associated therewithand'includinga support, a presser-element movablymounted on the support and engageabie when in coactive position Withthe"rin g, and means active on said deviceRtor positioning the element into and out of operating engagement With the ring and comprising an operating rod attached to said device.

10. In'aknitting machine, a needle-carrycylinder, a sin-ker-camring combinatively associated With-the cylinder, and a cylinder-positioning device "operatively associated therewith a-ndincluding a support, a presserelement movably "mounted on the support and engageable when in coactive position with the r1ng,and means for positioning' theel'ement into and out of operat- 111 'rel'ationwith respect to the ring, and

comprising an operatinga'od connected't-o said device and means for adjusting the thrust of the rod.

11. In a knitting machineta' needle-carrying cylinder a'sinker-cam-ring juxtaposed to the upper end thereof, and a cylinder po's'itioni'ngdevice bearing. when in one of its adjustable positions, on :the cam ring,

and including a bracket, a member fulcruined thereon, a presser-element mounted adjacent the extremity of the member and adapted to engage-yieldingly With the camring, and means for disengaging said presserelement from the ring. 7

12. In a knitting machine, aneedle-carrying cylinder, a sinker-cam-ring juxtaposed to the upper end thereof, and a cylinderpositioning device bearing, when in one of its adjustable positions, on the cam-ring, and including a bracket, a member fulcrumed thereon, a presser-element mounted adjacent the extremity of; the member and adapted to engage yieldingly with the camring, means for disengaging said presserelement from the ring comprising an actuating-lever, and a connector interposed between the member and lever.

13. In a knitting machine, a needle-carrying cylinder, a sinker-cam-ring juxtaposed to the upper end thereof, and a cylinderpositioning device bearing, When in one of its adjustable positions, on the cam-ring, and including a bracket, a member fulcrumed thereon, a pres er-element mounted adjacent the extremity of the member and adapted to engage yieldingly With the cam-ring, means for disengaging said presser-element from the ring comprising an actuating-lever, a connector interposed between the member and lever, and a disconnecting-element associated With the connector and manually actuated to disconnect the member from its actuating-lever. V

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

PATRICK r. LA MONTAGNE. 

